Session 1J: Tracking Medium Earth Orbit Satellites on Mobile Apparatus using Differential GPS Systems
Session Number
Session 1J: 2nd Presentation
Advisor(s)
Peter Dong, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
Location
Room B108
Start Date
28-4-2017 8:30 AM
End Date
28-4-2017 9:45 AM
Abstract
The company Intelligent Designs LLC is the owner of a satellite that orbits the Earth approximately four times a day. This satellite, known as the Omnispace F2 satellite (formerly known as the ICOF2 satellite), is a medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite that is situated in an orbit which is at a 45º incline with respect to the equator and 10,500 km from the earth. At the present time, no commercial products exist which are capable of pointing an antenna at the spacecraft as it orbits the earth for the maximal duration, but Intelligent Designs has designed a prototype apparatus that can track the ICOF2 satellite if it is at a given location that is stationary relative to the surface of the Earth. We conducted research with the aim of mounting this prototype antenna onto a mobile apparatus and modifying it to account for change in both physical location and rotational orientation in order to point it at the ICOF2 satellite, exploring and testing multiple approaches that utilized combinations of GPS and magnetometer systems to track linear and rotational movement. While testing has yet to be completed, determining location and bearing using a time differential method shows the most promise.
Session 1J: Tracking Medium Earth Orbit Satellites on Mobile Apparatus using Differential GPS Systems
Room B108
The company Intelligent Designs LLC is the owner of a satellite that orbits the Earth approximately four times a day. This satellite, known as the Omnispace F2 satellite (formerly known as the ICOF2 satellite), is a medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite that is situated in an orbit which is at a 45º incline with respect to the equator and 10,500 km from the earth. At the present time, no commercial products exist which are capable of pointing an antenna at the spacecraft as it orbits the earth for the maximal duration, but Intelligent Designs has designed a prototype apparatus that can track the ICOF2 satellite if it is at a given location that is stationary relative to the surface of the Earth. We conducted research with the aim of mounting this prototype antenna onto a mobile apparatus and modifying it to account for change in both physical location and rotational orientation in order to point it at the ICOF2 satellite, exploring and testing multiple approaches that utilized combinations of GPS and magnetometer systems to track linear and rotational movement. While testing has yet to be completed, determining location and bearing using a time differential method shows the most promise.